As a gardener who has successfully created a healthy backyard ecosystem (for plants, weeds, and creatures of all kinds), I regularly encounter toads. Pretty much, I encounter a toad every time I work any patch of soil in my garden. (So . . . that would be every day during gardening season.) I love toads. But they still always surprise me . . . when they just suddenly emerge out of the soil . . . and I didn’t even see them until Well, Hello Toad!

But this year I’ve met up with my Most Challenging Toad Garden Situation ever.

A few weeks ago, I was doing garden clean-up around my “puddle pond” (a sweet little hole-in-the-ground water feature that Brian and our at-the-time exchange student built for me in 2009) when a small toad emerged and . . . surprise! . . . jumped right into the pond. Now unlike frogs, toads are not meant to be in the water for long. And they don’t have the leg-power to allow them to jump out of a pond with steep sides. Like mine.

I panicked. (Many of you know that I cannot stand animal suffering of any kind. . . ) I didn’t know how to get him (her?) out of the water. (As much as I like my toads, I’m not good at grabbing for wet, uncooperative toads with my bare hands.) So I called on Tom for water rescue assistance and he got the little toad back on to solid ground.

End of story, right?
Wrong!

We have rescued that silly toad at least five times since! And in the process, we have perfected our Rescue Technique. Although Google suggests using a little net, we have found that a regular old shovel is much easier, handier (for us, usually), and more effective. Careful placement of the shovel allows the toad to climb aboard to be “airlifted” out. (Google also suggests that perhaps our toad is trying to lay her eggs in the pond. Which they do. Apparently.)

So with Tom away for a few days, I decided to make Toad Protection a priority. I crafted a temporary barrier from mesh fencing to keep toads – and other critters looking for a drink of water – out of the pond. I thought it was quite clever — and I was rather pleased with myself and my garden problem solving strategy.

But, friends. It did not work! I found that little bugger in the water . . . he (she?) must have found a way to wriggle under my barrier and pop in again. I grabbed my shovel, performed another rescue, and . . . went back to the drawing board.

What we need . . . is a convenient, permanent ramp of some sort to facilitate Toad Climbing Out Independently. For now, I’ve got a branch wedged into the pond. And the beginnings of a “rock pile” that may serve as a Critter Ramp.

Problem solving continues. It’s always something in the garden! (I’ll keep you posted. . . )

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Edited later to add this . . .

Why hasn’t this been a problem for my “puddle-pond” in the past? Well. In the past, I have always had water hyacinths in my little pond, which kept the water clear, sent up lovely blossoms all summer long, and – most importantly – provided a “landing pad” for critters to get out of the water safely. But . . . the State of Michigan regularly reviews and bans plants it considers invasive and dangerous to the state’s ecosystems, and this year, water hyacinth and another plant I use in my water features (water lettuce) are new additions to the state’s invasive list. So . . . I can’t buy them anymore. (Nor do I want to. They both clog up the waterways — a big deal here in Michigan — and are truly are invasive.) I’m researching better plant options for my tiny pond, while also figuring out some non-plant alternatives for my critters.